Norway receives bronze award

One of 20 honored for promoting Active Communities Program

November 16, 2012

NORWAY - The city of Norway is one of 20 Michigan communities that earned an award through the 2012 Promoting Active Communities (PAC) program.

Norway encourages a healthy quality of life by designing places and spaces that support active living for people of all ages and abilities.

Norway was awarded a Bronze Level award in recognition of their efforts to attract talent, old and new, in a more active, livable and economically viable community.

Article Photos

Norway has received the Promoting Active Communities Award. Accepting the award are, from left, Norway Mayor Jeremy Oja, City Manager Ray Anderson, Council member Chris Gotstein, Kelly Rumpf, health educator at the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department, Council member Paul Hayes, Carol Zechlin of the Jake Menghini Museum and Dennis Lynch of the American Legion.

"As communities design to be more walkable and bikeable, they will prosper. The city of Norway recognizes that designing for physical activity is an essential part of creating a livable hometown," said Kelly Rumpf, health educator for the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department.

This year, Norway was recognized for using innovative strategies to become an active Michigan community. This was Norway's first year participating in the event.

Norway is part of a growing network of 141 Michigan communities in 57 counties that since 2000 have showed their dedication to create better places to live, work and play by completing the PAC assessment.

Norway can use the assessment as a jumping off point to better understand what can be done to encourage active living through community design.

During this past May, Norway passed a Complete Streets (CS) Resolution and on Oct. 1, they passed a CS Ordinance which means they will include opportunities to make their streets more biker and walker friendly when it comes time for new road construction or when they make road improvements.

The CS concept also takes into account people with disabilities.

There are five possible award levels, ranging from copper to platinum, as well as an honorable mention to recognize communities just beginning work to become active living communities.

To be eligible for an award, a multi-disciplinary team of community members use the free online PAC assessment to evaluate their community's environments, policies, and programs that promote and support physical activity.

Any city, township, charter township or village in Michigan can complete the assessment and be eligible for an award.

The assessment addresses issues such as community planning, recreation and bicycle facilities, strategies schools and work sites use to encourage physical activity, public transportation, and downtown planning and design.

Norway completed the PAC assessment in partnership with the local health department and Norway-Vulcan Area Schools.

In addition, a community feedback report on Norway was created to identify barriers to active living and potential assets within the community to design a more walkable, bikeable environment. Information from this report can be used to enhance future planning efforts of Norway and raise community awareness of the importance of active living.

Contact Kelly Rumpf at (906) 779-7234 for more information on the report or to learn more about getting involved in creating active community environments.

This program was created in partnership by the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, Michigan State University, and the Prevention Research Center of Michigan. To learn more about the PAC program and how to become an advocate for active living in your hometown, visit mihealthtools.org/communities.